Encouraging the Motivation of Students in Primary School - A Case Study

Abstract

The aim of the research is to examine the current practice of encouraging motivation for learning in the teaching process in the elementary school “Dr Boško Vrebalov” in Melenci from the perspective of teachers and students. The sample of students consisted of 22 teachers and 159 students. Two instruments, constructed in the form of a five-point Likert-type scale, were used in the research: the Instrument for Teachers and the Instrument for Students. The applied instruments collected data on the prevalence of procedures for stimulating students’ motivation to learn from the perspective of teachers and students. Also, the opinion of students on the motivational role of the observed procedures of the teaching process on the motivation to learn was examined. Motivational procedures included three segments: preparation and planning of the teaching process, activities of teachers during the teaching process and the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in teaching. The results presented in this paper showed that all the observed procedures during the planning of teaching and learning, as well as the procedures related to the application of ICT, are very common in the teaching process. With minor deviations, there is agreement between teachers and students on their representation. The lowest prevalence and the greatest disagreement in the opinion of teachers and students concernen the application of ICT in teaching. Teachers notice that students use ICT to a lesser extent in teaching in relation to students’ opinions. The obtained results showed that students assigned a high motivational role to all examined procedures, which suggests that students should be more stimulated to use computers in teaching and extracurricular activities for educational purposes.